# Pop culture associations with classical music **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 20, 2018, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-culture-associations-with-classical-music/823261 "2018-10-20T20:25:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2018, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-culture-associations-with-classical-music/823261/21 "2018-10-20T22:05:02Z")
A little different: Whenever I hear anything from _Wagner’s Ring Cycle,_ I immediately think of the late Anna Russell. And when I hear Gilbert & Sullivan’s _I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major-General,_ I start thinking _“There’s antimony, arsenic, aluminum, selenium,”_ etc. And the very beginning of the last movement of Dvorak’s _New World Symphony_ sounds like the theme from _Jaws._ ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2018, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-culture-associations-with-classical-music/823261/22 "2018-10-20T22:15:06Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Here is Tchaikovsky’s “Piano Concerto No. 1.” The Terry Jones part is at the beginning, and the Charlie Brown part starts around the 21:30 mark: > > [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAXyj1dy-PE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAXyj1dy-PE) You copied the link from the “Mynah Bird Song.” ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2018, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-culture-associations-with-classical-music/823261/23 "2018-10-20T22:50:00Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > So was part of Franz von Suppe’s (I love that name!) “Light Cavalry March”: > > Starts here around the 2:08 mark. Von Suppe’s “[Poet and Peasant](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3_aM_s0R1U&t=3m30s)” was also often used in WB cartoons. The William Tell Overture has three sections that are used all the time: the Lone Ranger (knows officially as “March of the Swiss Soldiers”), Dawn, and the [Storm](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKrz1pl9oPw). ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2018, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-culture-associations-with-classical-music/823261/24 "2018-10-20T22:50:40Z")
Julius Fucik’s [Entry of the Gladiators](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_B0CyOAO8y0) is now known as “that circus music”. “O Fortuna”, set to [Carl Orff’s music](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5b7tgkdFH0) is the go-to mood music for epic battles and cataclysms. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2018, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-culture-associations-with-classical-music/823261/25 "2018-10-20T22:56:49Z")
Ennio Morricone did a brilliant soundtrack to complement Haskell Wexler’s beautiful visuals in “Days of Heaven”, but he borrowed one piece of music for the beginning [_(saint-saens: carnival of the animals; the aquarium)_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSJnPzXIiVc) But you might remember it as [the only “borrowed” piece of music for another movie…](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wab7HmSqas0) Ah, but I see there are YouTube videos claiming they’re not identical… well, close enough for my kids to yell out (like they do with Wagner: “Kill the Wabbit, kill the waaaaabbit…”) Oh, Disney’s used _carnival of the animals; the aquarium_ before… the beginning of _Impressions de France,_ aka “The French Movie”, at Epcot) [Here’s the soundtrack…](https://www.amazon.com/Impressions-de-France-Instrumental/dp/B00EDN1TM8) ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2018, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-culture-associations-with-classical-music/823261/26 "2018-10-20T23:02:08Z")
> [@mbh](#): > > Julius Fucik’s [Entry of the Gladiators](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_B0CyOAO8y0) is now known as “that circus music”. > > “O Fortuna”, set to [Carl Orff’s music](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5b7tgkdFH0) is the go-to mood music for epic battles and cataclysms. For me it’ll always be [“The Great Big Ad We’re In” for Carleton Draught.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wM2c3WtDjQ) So I laugh when it’s being used in an attempt for us to take something seriously (like the Trade Wars in the Star Wars Prequel trailers?..pffft! Please…). “This ad better sell some blooooooooody beer!” Do watch it! ---
**Author:** ![Dropo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Dropo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dropo)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2018, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-culture-associations-with-classical-music/823261/27 "2018-10-20T23:18:51Z")
Bach, _Toccata and Fugue in D minor_ a.k.a. _Rollerball_ intro music (1975): Amid all the Beethoven, \*A Clockwork Orange\* also makes effective - if abridged - use of Rossini's \*The Thieving Magpie\* for scene featuring a bit of the old ultra-violence. [02. The Thieving Magpie (Abridged) - A Clockwork Orange soundtrack - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ceh0-42FXg0) - music only Ditto, _Once Upon a Time in America_, for a nicely executed baby ID switching scene: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/ubI9PTA2fio/hqdefault.jpg "Once Upon A Time In America") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubI9PTA2fio) ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2018, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-culture-associations-with-classical-music/823261/28 "2018-10-20T23:49:41Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > You copied the link from the “Mynah Bird Song.” Crap! :mad: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Ybg2BEy_pu0/maxresdefault.jpg "TCHAIKOVSKY ~ Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor - LANG LANG / Järvi") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ybg2BEy_pu0) ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2018, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-culture-associations-with-classical-music/823261/29 "2018-10-20T23:57:37Z")
[quote=“Dropo, post:27, topic:823261”] Bach, _Toccata and Fugue in D minor_ a.k.a. _Rollerball_ intro music (1975): [/QUOTE] I associate it with _The Phantom of the Opera_, where it was first used in the 1962 version. It was used earlier in horror as the intro to the 1931 version of _Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde_ and in _The Black Cat_ (1934) with Lugosi and Karloff. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2018, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-culture-associations-with-classical-music/823261/30 "2018-10-21T00:13:51Z")
[Bolero.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZDiaRZy0Ak) [Association.](https://condenaststore.com/featured/now-last-time-near-the-end-of-ravels-bolero-george-booth.html) ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2018, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-culture-associations-with-classical-music/823261/31 "2018-10-21T00:36:41Z")
Debussy’s “Arabesque No. 1” was the theme for PBS’s _ **Star Hustler** _: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVYH-7QGE-A ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2018, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-culture-associations-with-classical-music/823261/32 "2018-10-21T01:05:13Z")
Rossini’s _ **The Barber of Seville** _ is now forever linked to “The Barber” episode of _ **Seinfeld** _. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/DiNFVb-TxL4/maxresdefault.jpg "Rossini - Barber of Seville Overture") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiNFVb-TxL4) ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2018, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-culture-associations-with-classical-music/823261/33 "2018-10-21T01:12:05Z")
Amilcare Ponchielli’s “Dance of the Hours” became Allan Sherman’s “Camp Granada.” [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jjiWS__Mp0) ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2018, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-culture-associations-with-classical-music/823261/34 "2018-10-21T01:12:22Z")
I surprised that Tchaikovsky’s [1812 Overture](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=md9ImEkV2_c)hasn’t been mentioned yet, known especially for its use by Quaker Puffed Wheat/Puffed Rice, the “cereal shot from guns.” ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2018, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-culture-associations-with-classical-music/823261/35 "2018-10-21T01:15:48Z")
Offenbach’s _ **Orpheus in the Underworld** _ overture contains “The Can-Can”: Starting around the 7:00 mark. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2018, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-culture-associations-with-classical-music/823261/36 "2018-10-21T01:38:58Z")
The trumpets’ _Dada-da, dada-da_! in “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” invariably makes me think of _ **Star Wars** _: At the 0:55 mark. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2018, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-culture-associations-with-classical-music/823261/37 "2018-10-21T01:57:08Z")
“Romance” from Shostakovich’s _ **The Gadfly Suite** _ was the theme for _ **Reilly: Ace of Spies** _: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/qLb6tdz73oA/hqdefault.jpg "Reilly, Ace Of Spies Theme") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLb6tdz73oA) ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2018, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-culture-associations-with-classical-music/823261/38 "2018-10-21T02:33:38Z")
[quote=“terentii, post:33, topic:823261”] Amilcare Ponchielli’s “Dance of the Hours” became Allan Sherman’s “Camp Granada.” [/QUOTE] Not to mention the Ostrich - Hippo - Elephant-Alligator ballet in _Fantasia_. But, yeah, I encountered it first as “Camp Granada” too. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2018, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-culture-associations-with-classical-music/823261/39 "2018-10-21T02:47:26Z")
Currently, the sitcom _[Mom](https://www.wfmt.com/2017/10/27/through-a-farce-darkly-how-a-glinka-overture-became-the-theme-song-for-the-sitcom-mom/)_ uses Glinka’s Overture from “Ruslan and Lyudmila” ---
**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2018, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-culture-associations-with-classical-music/823261/40 "2018-10-21T05:09:50Z")
Star Trek battles often closely mimic “Mars” from Holst’s _The Planets_, without using it literally. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-culture-associations-with-classical-music/823261.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-culture-associations-with-classical-music/823261.md?page=3)